PC malfunctioned. Assistance required to pinpoint the origin or impacted components.
PC malfunctioned. Assistance required to pinpoint the origin or impacted components.
Last night my PC malfunctioned and shut down abruptly. I was using a headset and initially thought the circuit breaker had tripped, so I restarted it. I heard a faint "zzz" noise and then switched off the power supply, assuming a short circuit occurred. Later, I detected a burning odor. Brief note: my build uses custom water cooling (though I’m certain there was no leak). After the last shutdown, all RGB lights came on in normal rainbow mode (since everything was off before), and the case power button stayed illuminated. Specifications: CPU – Ryzen 7900X, GPU – RTX 3080, RAM – 32GB Corsair 6000 MT/s, PSU – Corsair RM1000x. I’ll add more details if needed. The PSU appears functional; my pump ran on it, and the memory module worked at least partially. The CPU power LED is now on after I powered down and unplugged everything. Only tested the RAM with a 24-pin cable, and according to the BIOS flashback indicator, I managed to update the BIOS (it went from version 0805 to 1415). I began disassembling the system to look for burn marks on the IHS, but found none anywhere else. The BIOS issues and sudden shutdowns seemed linked only to X3D chips. I lack a way to verify CPU or RAM health except by rebuilding it and hoping the power button works. I don’t have access to another AM5 board. I could try running the GPU on my old machine, but can a waterblock dissipate heat alone until I get a debug LED code? Proxmox is installed there, so GPU load should be minimal aside from basic commands. Still, I’m puzzled about the burning smell—my guess is it’s coming from the lower half of the motherboard, below the SSD heatsinks. Hopefully, someone with experience can help me figure this out. Thanks for your time, Penzi.
I'm not sure if it would have been posted. I shut it off right away upon hearing that overwhelming sound and the subsequent smell. This is the first time I've ever experienced a short-circuit. However, what I heard matches exactly what I expected.
Well, honestly it depends. You could simply run a continuous loop using a bucket as a storage and have the pump draw water from it. I actually tried that for testing purposes. If your old computer still works, you might want to check the power supply unit on the new setup, excluding the 3080. This could also point to a PSU problem—just because it starts and can run a low-power pump doesn’t guarantee it’s working properly. The best approach would be to reassemble it with quick, simple loops (get some PVC hose and clamps from the hardware store) and experiment with water to see what functions correctly. As for the CPU overheating, Asus tends to apply excessive voltage even on non-X3D chips; X3D models are more tolerant of it.
Installed my vintage wraith prism cooler on the AM5 board and connected the power supply of another PC. I had to adapt the EPS/CPU cables from the newer PSU, since the older one only came with one. Both models use Corsair Type4 cables, which should work fine. As soon as I pressed the power button, the cooler began spinning briefly, keeping the coolers and keyboard lights active until I switched off the PSU. Trying to turn it off by pressing the case power button didn’t work. After replacing the PSU with a new one, the same behavior occurred, but shortly after startup, the PSU emitted a "click" sound followed by a brief fan spin before returning to idle. There was a noticeable coil whine throughout and the 4 debug LEDs remained inactive despite the 500€ price tag. It’s unclear if the motherboard is the issue or if the PSU protection system is functioning properly. I’m still unsure whether my CPU and GPU are operational. Could a single faulty component cause such widespread problems?
It's time to return the motherboard or send it back for replacement. A faulty power supply or bad motherboard can easily damage your entire setup. While less common now, it still occurs. It might be a motherboard issue if it completely won't accept it.